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Groups like: The GaYBOR District Coalition, YCDC &&& Businesses: like Hamburger Mary’s, Honey Pot, G.BAR, Social, MC Film Fest, JJ’s Cafe, Carne, Don Vicente Inn &&& Ybor residents: like Mike, Scott, Rich, Tessa, Jack, Mamma &&& Many Many more organizations and individuals all worked together, under the leadership of Mathieu Stanoch & Florida Entertainment Group, to bring an exciting line up this Holiday Season. Last week volunteers decorated the famous 7th Ave. lamp posts of GaYBOR/ Ybor City. It really looks marvelous and highly welcoming.

On Wednesday, 11-27-12 was the lighting of the Holiday Tree in Centro Ybor. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Santa Clause both did the honor of lighting the 2 story tree. There were 100’s of people and performers from Busch Gardens & The Straz Performing Art Center all there to cheer them on. Mark your calendars now for Saturday, Dec 15, 2012, the date of the next BIG event you will not want to miss and experience! “The Holiday Spirit Parade & Snowing on 7th Ave.”  (We hear there will be snow flying.)

When we went to Pride on 7th first year festival at the old Tampa Armature Building (Trolly barn) at the end of 7th Ave and the Hillsborough River, we saw in the back of the building a bare rusted out shell of an old streetcar. It looked fitting in the old cob webbed greasy smelling building with an abundant number of large windows for light. Paper draft designs laying all around on the trashed floor and on the sides of the old car. The found historic Tampa streetcar treasure is a restorers dream. The rusted & weathered car was sitting on blocks with cement block steps to get into the empty insides. Broken and rotted support beams were very visible. Parts of the outer skin had rusted off and new sheet metal and aluminum were needed to help complete its exterior structure. It was going to take years of passion, love and pain staking work to bring the once work horse back alive again. But again that is the positive challenge of the few.

Now 3 years later that same streetcar is moving on a semi-truck flatbed about Tampa and is heading for a new life on the Tampa rails. Supporters, preservationists and volunteers of the Streetcar, carpenters, cabinet makers, metal shop workers and paint shops all over Tampa are getting involved. Benefits, volunteering labor, materials and money grants to make a new presence from the historical past.

Just like the small #167 Tampa Streetcar having been totally restored for use on special travel trips on the famous Ybor City to downtown Tampa journey. The streetcar being newly restored is breathing new life. Small steps now but what great reward when totally restored to the Tampa Bay community.

 

Today coming home to Tampa from east coast Cape Canaveral we were keeping up with traffic going about 80 in a 70 mph zone. Two different out of state tourist speedsters passed us all on the right side. When the toll booth came up they both had to stop & wait in the very long liones to pay their tolls. With our Sun Pass/ EZ Pass we all sailed on past them. LOL LOL

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Died 11-27-2012

When we heard that our good friend Terry had passed we started to look for a “Good” photo of him. In all the photos he was making a humorous face. Then we realized, that was Terry. He was really a big kid at heart. Big smile on his face as he always enjoyed life and was having a great time. Many people will remember his parties at Ft. DeSoto State Park,  The Suncoast Resort & Flamingo Hotel. Born in Minnesota, partners in the Saloon Bar in Mpls, he relocated to Long Boat Key where he operated his framing studio in Siesta Key. Terry will be missed by many in our communities. His sudden bout with cancer was a surprise to us all. Rest in peace our fun loving Italian friend.

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OK Ronnie might be our very 1st Great Nephew!!! LOL LOL When ever you see Sashay T Van-Cartier, Ronnie will be close by. Ronnie seems to be every where these days and always with a big smile!!!